Renting FAQs

Redfern Property Opening Hours

Redfern Property is open from 9am to 5pm daily, Monday to Friday. We are available for viewings from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 5pm with prebooked appointments, and can also do evening appointments when prebooked also.

Must I view a property?

In short, yes. Viewing not only makes sure you actually like the property and it’s suitable for your needs, but it also gives the chance for the landlord or letting agent to assess your suitability for the property as well. It’s a chance for both parties to make sure that this really is the right, or wrong, property for you.

What does it mean if my house is fully managed?

Properties that are fully managed by Redfern Property mean that we are responsible for them. If you are renting from us and in a fully managed property, please report any issues or faults to us directly. We have already agreed authorisation up to a set budget with each landlord, and can authorise repairs and so forth quickly. In some cases (for example a new fridge needed) we will need to authorise spending of funds with the landlord.

It is common for the majority of our properties that are fully managed for tenants never to come into contact with their landlords - it might be that the landlords don't live locally.

How does it work with utility bills?

If the rent doesn’t include the bills, we will inform the utility companies when you move in and take meter readings on your move in day. They will then be able to contact you (hopefully with a lovely letter welcoming you to your new home) and you can discuss with them directly.

Can I change who my utility bills are with?

In most cases yes, but in all cases you will need express permission from either Redfern Property or your landlord. In some cases, a landlord with a large portfolio of houses may have a special deal with a certain supplier, and they may not be able to get out of their own contracts.

Do I need a guarantor?

This all depends on your credit score and also your affordability. We do ask for proof of income/proof of wage when we run our initial checks, however if we’re unsure that you will be able to cover the rent throughout the length of your tenancy, or if you credit rating is a little lower than we would like, then yes we will ask for a guarantor. The guarantor doesn’t have to pay anything, but is responsible if your account falls into arrears. We will ask the guarantor for proof of income also.

I claim housing benefits, can I move in?

We consider applicants with housing benefit in a good chunk of the properties on our list, but we would need a guarantor who can cover the rent in all cases.

What is an inventory and do I need one?

An inventory is essentially a condition report of the property. The purpose of an inventory is to highlight the condition and cleanliness of a property at the beginning of a tenancy (and as such, you need a new one at every tenancy).
We won't rent a house without an inventory, unless we've had express permission from the landlord to do so.
The purpose of an inventory is two fold - covering you and the landlord.
The inventory covers you as tenants in that you are provided with this very detailed document (either digitally or on paper) which will show you the condition and cleanliness of all aspects of the house, as well as highlighting smoke detectors, meters and fire safety equipment. You will be given this and have 7 days to add your own notes (which we don't dispute and advise you to do), and return to us. This inventory is then used at the end of your tenancy to ensure the property is returned in the same condition as when you received it.
The inventory will cover a landlord in that we can prove using the time stamped photographs the condition of the property at the tenancy start and end. So if there is damage (for example, blue tack pulls off the plaster on the wall), we can charge fairly for this on the landlords behalf. Equally, we can't charge for damages if we can't prove it has happened.

Can I have a pet?

This has to be one of the most common questions we get asked – and yes in some cases this isn’t a problem. Unfortunately, not all landlords are happy to be letting their houses and properties to pet owners, but we do try our best to ensure we have suitable properties for those who do have pets. You can read more about being a landlord and tenant with pets by clicking here.

Who gets my deposit?

No one! The deposit is registered straight away with the DPS, the Deposit Protection Scheme which is set up by the Government to make sure that landlords and letting agents don’t pocket the money and get interest too! An agent or landlord has 30 days to register your deposit, and you’ll get an email from the DPS confirming it has been done.

What happens on move in day?

On the move in day you will need to have booked an appointment with Redfern Property to collect your new keys! You will also need to make sure that by this date you have paid your deposit, and also the first rent that is due (this may be for one month or perhaps a term if you are in a student property).

Tenant swaps

In the event that you are looking to move out of the property (be that a property you rent from us as an individual or within a house share), one of the options available to you is tenant swapping. This means that if you are looking to leave before your contract ends, you can find a replacement tenant to take over your agreement and responsibilities. We are happy for this and will help you in anyway that we can, however for any potential tenants you do find would be subject to our usual application fees, references and credit checks. We would also take them for a viewing around the property.

Renewal of tenancy

Our standard tenancy agreement is 6 months in length. After this, the majority of our contracts then run on a "Monthly Rolling Basis", which means that the contract is valid month to month. We can on request provide a new contract for a set length of time, but have found that the rolling contracts suit the tenants.

Early termination

There are a few options here, but first thing first please do come and speak to us as soon as you know. We’re here to help as much as we can, and can offer you some advice! Our role as a letting agent is to negotiate between landlord and tenant in order to find a suitable resolution. Please do bear in mind that it depends on the situation and also the landlord completely - we cannot decide fro the landlord to release or not release you from the contract.

Pop in for a chat if you’re looking for some advice in regards to this.

Termination / Notice

If you are coming to the end of your fixed tenancy and don't wish to renew, or you are on a rolling tenancy and wish to leave, we would require 30 days written notice. This gives us some time to inform the landlord, draw up a new advert and take viewings for the property. Ideally, we'll have a new tenant lined up as soon as possible from your move out date.

Notice should be written to us, and not provided verbally. Verbal notice will not be accepted.

Move out procedure

We want to help your moving out as much as possible, because it can be quite a stressful time for you. We don't want you to worry unnecessarily about phantom charges that you may get, and as such we always offer a "pre-move out inspection". This can be anything from a week before you move to a month before, and we'll basically visit the house and give you some advice on areas that need cleaning (for example, the top of those kitchen cupboards).
On the move out day, you can either leave the key or we can meet you at the property and do a move out inspection with you. This will be comparing the original inventory to the condition of the property as we go around.